Attributing Heat Waves to Carbon Majors

Updated: 2025.10.07 14D ago 2 sources
Researchers reconstructed past climate and then reran models subtracting emissions from individual oil, gas, coal, and cement producers to measure each producer’s contribution to global warming and specific extreme heat events. They found 213 severe heat waves were substantially more likely or intense due to these emitters, and up to a quarter would have been virtually impossible without their pollution. — This strengthens the scientific basis for holding specific firms legally and financially responsible for climate damages, reshaping litigation, insurance, and international compensation debates.

Sources

Highbrow climate misinformation - by Joseph Heath
2025.10.07 60% relevant
The article critiques how Carbon Majors figures are framed in media (e.g., The Guardian headline) by noting the dataset mixes state/state‑owned and investor‑owned producers, which matters for legal attribution strategies that target 'companies' for climate harms.
Scientists Link Hundreds of Severe Heat Waves To Fossil Fuel Producers' Pollution
BeauHD 2025.09.12 100% relevant
Lead author Yann Quilcaille (ETH Zurich) explains running a climate model 'without the emissions of a specific carbon major' and the finding that companies like ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP contributed to extreme heat waves.
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